I never had the opportunity to meet one of my greatest mentors. Peter Drucker died November 11, 2005. Known as the “father of management,” he wasn't a ministry guy; he was a business consultant.

 

            People were the singular focus in Mr. Drucker's philosophy. Prior to him, management was devoted to spreadsheets, objectives, and reports.

 

            It was through his wisdom about people that Mr. Drucker's counsel, my education, experience, heart for ministry, and devotion to reaching others through the organization of Lifetime Guarantee coalesced.

 

            And you are one of the beneficiaries. At no other time of the year is this more true than now, at the end of the year and the dawn of the new. 

 

            Obviously, end-of-the-year giving is essential to the advancement of a non profit organization's mission. LGI is no different. However, if a ministry is not clear concerning the value it places on people, its mailing list degenerates into a means to raise money. When this occurs, people are hurt'and rightly so!

 

            Mr. Drucker writes, “A non profit institution that becomes a prisoner to money-raising is in serious trouble and in a serious identity crisis.” He goes on to discuss the concept of you being a partner, a participant in achieving the mission.

 

            Together, we trust Christ to live through us, and as opportunities arise, He expresses Himself through us. Of course, you recognize immediately that this is the definition of life and ministry you have learned from Lifetime Guarantee.

 

            Partners value each other. They respect each other's giftedness. They communicate with each other, develop trust, and share joy. This is indicative of our relationship.

 

You are a minister. You don't have a ministry business card as I do, but that is neither here nor there. Business cards are simply contact information. You are a minister. Called. Commissioned. Celebrated by your employer, the High King of Glory.

 

Your job is multifaceted'just like mine'but when it comes to participating in the mission of Lifetime, we are clearly partners.

 

You know this to be the case! Our strength of partnership delivers the message of identification in Christ with incredible effectiveness, and I might add, efficiency.

 

As I pointed out in another letter to you, the ministry model of Lifetime is working. You read the stories of transformed lives'not just better, but transformed'in each of my letters. I want to communicate clearly that your trust, belief, and partnership with your colleagues at Lifetime is accomplishing the ministry mission that glows in the deep recesses of our souls.

 

I spoke in my previous letter to you of vision; broad, compelling, and quite different from a few years ago. The world has changed. It is globalized; interconnected. LGI reaches into this flattened world and does so effectively. The delivery method has changed. The message is the same'and it is essential.

 

No matter how the world changes, people are important and they still need Jesus. The need someone to serve as their messenger telling them how to walk with Him every day. Partner, this is what we do.

 

Thanks for your participation. Thanks for loving people. Bless you,